Epilepsy and Car Insurance

Hello123

After having the odd seizure over the past 10 years, most recent being a few months ago, I've had a recent official diagnosis this week.

I need to look for a Car Insurance quote and I realise that the premium will be loaded, but I am just wondering, before I go and do anything, what kind of premium are we talking ???

It might not be worth in and I could pack the driving in altogether.
Anyone any info?

ash23

Have you notified the Driving licence authority about the epilepsy?

I have MS and had to return my old licence to have the code 101 noted on it (meaning renewal is subject to a medical). I sent in a medical completed by my GP which gives them the option of a renewal of 1 year, 3 years or 5 years. My GP gave me a one year licence until we see how the MS progresses.
I thought I'd at least need to send in a medical to my insurer but when I contacted them, they said once I had notified the licencing authority, I didn't need to do anything else and my premium wasn't affected.

I think though that most GPs won't approve you to drive until you're 12 months seizure free.

I used to work in insurance and usually before renewal, where someone had epilepsy, they needed to submit a medical report from their neuro or GP (depending on the company). Once this was done there was no loading placed on the policy.

I'm sure some companies do refuse to quote or would load the premium, but in my experience it's not as difficult to get cover with an illness and you may think (once medically proven fit to drive).

Hello123

thanks very much for that .... although i have the diagnosis on paper, I am seizure free now so have been told by neuro thatI can drive.
He never mentioned telling the DLA. I would imagine I will have to when I renew my licence, but that is not until 2016.

Good to hear that your premium was unaffected!

ash23

Hello123 wrote: »

thanks very much for that .... although i have the diagnosis on paper, I am seizure free now so have been told by neuro thatI can drive.
He never mentioned telling the DLA. I would imagine I will have to when I renew my licence, but that is not until 2016.

Good to hear that your premium was unaffected!

Afraid you can't wait. By law you have to notify them.

http://www.rsa.ie/RSA/Licensed-Drivers/Safe-driving/Medical-Issues/

Birdsong

Hello123 wrote: »

After having the odd seizure over the past 10 years, most recent being a few months ago, I've had a recent official diagnosis this week.

I need to look for a Car Insurance quote and I realise that the premium will be loaded, but I am just wondering, before I go and do anything, what kind of premium are we talking ???

It might not be worth in and I could pack the driving in altogether.
Anyone any info?

Here you say you had a seizure a few months ago, you need to be seizure free for a year before you can drive.

I don't see how your nurologist would say you can drive.

I have epilepsy myself and have a 3 year driver licence at the moment, but had to start with a one year, which i got with being seizure free for a year, however a few years ago i got a seizure and i was off the road for a year, and the had to have a medical.

I deal with First Ireland insurance, and found them helpful, though my premium is loaded.

emzolita

it's defo 1year seizure-free to drive, unless they're only nocturnal seizures.
After that ones year, get a letter from your neuro consultant, and get your GP to fill out the medical form, it's available online.
you're able to get a 10year license. I got one, after 24years of seizures. I also never told DLA, it's nothing to do with them once you're given the go-ahead to drive.
I got my insurance with Aviva, who, I got a quote off first, then disclosed Epilepsy, this didn't change the quote. They just needed a letter from the Neuro too.

ash23

emzolita wrote: »

it's defo 1year seizure-free to drive, unless they're only nocturnal seizures.
After that ones year, get a letter from your neuro consultant, and get your GP to fill out the medical form, it's available online.
you're able to get a 10year license. I got one, after 24years of seizures. I also never told DLA, it's nothing to do with them once you're given the go-ahead to drive.
I got my insurance with Aviva, who, I got a quote off first, then disclosed Epilepsy, this didn't change the quote. They just needed a letter from the Neuro too.

By having the gp complete the medical form and sending it in to get the licence, that is telling the DLA. I posted the link. By LAW a person is obliged to inform the DLA if they have epilepsy. It's everything to do with them.

emzolita

ash23 wrote: »

By having the gp complete the medical form and sending it in to get the licence, that is telling the DLA. I posted the link. By LAW a person is obliged to inform the DLA if they have epilepsy. It's everything to do with them.

I thought you meant ringing them and telling them etc

ash23

emzolita wrote: »

I thought you meant ringing them and telling them etc

I more meant that the OP can't wait until his/her licence expires in order to submit the medical. Once diagnosed a person has to send in their existing licence with a medical in order to get a new licence with the condition noted. My licence still had 4 years left on it but I had to send it back and get a new one.

If the OP doesn't notify the DLA by sending in the existing licence with a medical then they are breaking the law.

Hello123

Thanks for replies ...

I believe that the law had changed regarding a provoked seizure, since 2010. It is at the discretion the Neuro then. I will check up on that.


If I already have a licence, then is ringing the DLA sufficient? I won't be filling in a new form until 2016.

ash23

Hello123 wrote: »

If I already have a licence, then is ringing the DLA sufficient? I won't be filling in a new form until 2016.

You have to send back your current licence with a medical form completed by your GP or neuro. You need to complete a new application form and submit it with 2 photos, your current licence and the completed medical form. There is no charge for this because you are replacing a current licence.

All forms and info is available on DLA website.

cathy01

You can have clinically induced seizures , which happen say when your giving blood , you can have nighttime sleep seizures which happen only at night and full seizures . Things have changed in relation to how lon you can drive it now depends on the seizure type and cause . Great to hear your doing well . Ring brainwave for more info .cathy

molly1507

I am seizure free for nearly 3 years.Dread the quot's I will get!